4th session and still HAIR!!!

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
1

About me: Male, white, olive-skinned, 46, brown hair.

Treatment: Full back, buttocks, upper arms, neck; every 4-6 weeks.

I have had 4 treatments using the Lyra laser which is supposed to work on all skin color types. After the first 2 treatments, I seemed to react well, as the hair that did grow back took much longer and was more sparse and lighter in color, but now, after my 4th session, is it my imagination that my hair is coming back stronger? Was the initial positive reaction perhaps only a temporary “shock” and now I’ve, in effect, become immune, and there is no more to gain from any more sessions, so I’ve been scammed, er what?

Those with way more experience, HELP!

2

after a few treatments, hairs become more in synch. so, you might be seeing a bunch of dormant hair come out at once. I would have at least 2 more treatments and judge from there. by the way, 4-6 weeks is a bit too often for treatments on those areas. Usually hair takes up to 3.5 weeks to shed and then you should see a hairfree period for a couple of weeks until new set of hair comes in. So, for most treatments are spaced 8-10 weeks apart after the initial 2 treatments or so.

3

Thanks for the response.

Actually my next (5th) session will be just about 8 weeks from the last (4th) one, so it sounds like they know what they’re doing. They’d better, at the price I’m paying! They use the Lyra Laserscope (Nd YAG). I just read a post on this forum from a young man who sounded very upset about his hirsuitism on his arms and hands. He felt he was a skin type 3 and you recommended him to use a diode or alexandrite type of laser. I’m probably between a type 3 and 4. The Lyra was the one suggested for my skin type. Do you now think this laser is not as effective, as I read that the other type is more effective only for those with LIGHT skin and DARK hair???

4

I too am experiencing significant hair regrowth between my fourth and fifth treatments.–I am female, type II, having upper lip, chin and under chin treated every 6-7 weeks at 30-36 joules. I am being treated with Lightsheer Diode XC–purported to be one of the best and more powerful lasers on the market. I do not know how to account for this, I do not have a hormonal imbalance(had all this checked out), not insulin resistant–if fasting glucose numbers are an indicator of this.

I will say that its not as bad as before I started treatments, but worse regrowth than after any previous treatments(cept maybe after the first when it didn’t even seem like all hairs were treated).

I go in this coming Saturday for session 5. I guess I will be bending the ear of my tech with all my woes. I really thought I would end up with at least 75% reduction…it’s looking now like I will be lucky with 50%. I have not given up hope as this may be just part of the growth cycle, etc.–I have six sessions total as part of my package, with a years worth of free treatments thereafter. At this rate I will probably need them!

5

With skin type IV, either a diode or a Yag can be used, depending on how well your skin can handle a diode since it’s more likely to cause pigmentation or burns when used at high settings. If Lyra is working well for you, stick with it. Yags work just as well on coarse dark hair as the diodes. The difference comes in sometimes when hair is finer, as Yags don’t target it as well. But then diodes target finer hair better only at higher settings, which can’t be used on darker skin types anyways. I think you’re fine.

6

One thing that came to mind I forgot to bring up: How do I know what setting or intensity level is being used for maximum hair reduction using the Lyra? How do I know each session’s levels are consistent? I’ve read posts talking about joules and such. Is there some way for me to verify this with the technician so I know I’m getting what I’m paying for?

Is it true that, for the back, since it’s difficult to treat, and if the practitioner doesn’t use a very high energy, it could actually stimulate hair growth where there is none???

Should an increased setting be used on the shoulders as well?

So, then, what is the highest setting for the Lyra and what would you suggest for these tough areas???

Also, is it true that lower settings are used for patient safety/pain, skin color, or to increase revenues; they want to get through the treatment fast so large spot size helps them do this???

I noticed my last 2 sessions lasted about an hour; the first 2 were twice as long as that. Hmmmm.

Areas treated: Full back, full buttocks, upper arms, shoulders, full neck. Approx. cost per session: $738

Does this cost sound about right?

Here’s some info on the Lyra: http://www.laserscope.com/products/lyra.html

“Fringe Benefit” from the Lyra: stimulation of new collagen in areas being treated for hair removal?

I wanted to add that this facility is owned and monitored by an M.D. who I had an initial consultation in addition to the technician, so that gave me assurance before I took the plunge.

7

I am not familiar with settings on the Lyra. RC2001 might be able to answer that better since he’s had a treatment with this laser. What you can do is ask the tech what settings were used on you (joules, spot size, pulse etc). It helps to also ask what the maximum settings on this machine are. Personally, I prefer to get treated at maximum settings that your skin can handle for best most efficient results. Most people here who have gotten results have done that. Yes, some have reported more stimulated growth after laser on those areas, but this is normally reported when areas where there was only sparse hair or very fine vellus hair were targeted by laser AND with lower settings. So, to avoid those issues, personally I would ask that they treat only those areas with dense coarse hair, not single sparse hairs, and do spot tests to find out what the highest setting the skin can handle and treat at that. I don’t think most places purposely treat at lower settings to make more money (maybe some do, I don’t know). I think most just want to be EXTRA safe so that they don’t burn you (potential lawsuits etc) and are too lazy to spot test, although my personal opinion is that it’s not the most effective way to go.

8

I noticed my last 2 sessions lasted about an hour; the first 2 were twice as long as that. Hmmmm.

Areas treated: Full back, full buttocks, upper arms, shoulders, full neck. Approx. cost per session: $738

Does this cost sound about right?

“Fringe Benefit” from the Lyra: stimulation of new collagen in areas being treated for hair removal?

9

the cost sounds fine. the treatment might be shorter due to an overall decrease of hair. there might not be that much to treat.

10

I spoke to my technician today. Here are the exact settings/values for the Laserscope Lyra:

These are standard for my skin type which they have at III:

10mm; maximum 2 pulses per second; 39 joules; 50 milliseconds.

They might take me down to 5mm for better concentration.

Does this sound okay and can anyone make some sense from these numbers?

11

On such a relatively visible and smaller area, I’m not sure why you don’t just go with electrolysis. Electrolysis is more proven and can contour your beard in the process.

Mantaray

12

About me: Male, white, olive-skinned, 46, brown hair.

Treatment: Full back, buttocks, upper arms, neck; every 4-6 weeks.

That’s not a very small area…

13

Right, to correct you Mantaray, I’m not doing my beard but those others large areas.

14

I’m back after having a 5th treatment about 2 mos. ago. I’m due for my 6th and supposedly final treatment, however, I still have lots of hair in all the areas still. I wanted to continue from this original thread so you can reference my case and treatment.

My gut feeling is that it either ain’t working or the laser(s) used wasn’t strong enough? I’m losing faith, I guess.

Aren’t there those of us who’s hairiness is just too stubborn due to genetics or hormones, and this was just a waste of $$$$ and I might as well cut my losses - or is there still hope yet - perhaps by hitting those stubborn areas more times and with a stronger setting perhaps???

15

a couple things to note:

  1. 6 treatments is not enough for a man on those areas. just because they sell you a package in 6 treatments doesn’t mean that’s all you’re going to need. most men need at least 8, but soemtimes more.

  2. you’re using a Yag laser, which only works best on the very coarse hairs. also, you have light skin and dark hair, so you should be using an alex or a diode for best results. using a Yag will also overall make you have more treatments.

  3. this laser has a small spot size of 10mm, so there is a larger probability of missing hairs, which means those will be coming back, making you have more treatments overall.

now, a few questions:

do you experience shedding of ALL treated hair? as in the hair falls out 2 weeks after the treatment? what is your experience each time?

also, do you have access to try an alex laser? if you’re stuck in a package here, i would say you should after you’re done with your 6 treatments here.

16

do you experience shedding of ALL treated hair? as in the hair falls out 2 weeks after the treatment?[quote]
No, I don’t notice this shedding.

[quote]what is your experience each time?[quote]
In the very first couple treatments I noticed that my skin was more affected (redness, bumps), especially around the front neck area where the shaved hairs would pop out during treatment, and that the hairs overall did not grow back as fast after a couple weeks, and when they did, it was much lighter and smaller.

[quote]also, do you have access to try an alex laser? if you’re stuck in a package here, i would say you should after you’re done with your 6 treatments here.

The clinic where I was getting treated has gone through some changes recently; I will have the same technician and I believe the same dr. is involved in running the clinic, but I have no idea what lasers they will be using.

I have light olive skin when not tan, so is that why you say I have light skin? For instance, my upper arms & front neck have a base tan and are darker than the rest of the areas being treated. My buttocks are the lightest area and seem to have responded to treatment the least (lots of hair has grown back already).

17

No shedding between treatments? Hmmm, that doesn’t sound like the hairs have been zapped correctly. I, then, assume that you haven’t had a relatively hairless period between treatments.

How about the texture of the hairs? Are they getting lighter and thinner? Or, are they the same as when you started?

In my experience, they hairs got significantly thinner and a little lighter (as well as being more sparse). If I happen to shave the areas, I don’t feel any stubble when the hairs are growing back.

18

[quote]No shedding between treatments? Hmmm, that doesn’t sound like the hairs have been zapped correctly. I, then, assume that you haven’t had a relatively hairless period between treatments.

If there is shedding, I haven’t noticed it. And no, there have always been haors between treatments, as I’ve had to shave to prep myslef.

How about the texture of the hairs? Are they getting lighter and thinner? Or, are they the same as when you started?[quote]
Yes, the hairs, especially most noticeably on my back, are thinner and more sparse, and there is some patchiness.

19

Doh!!

20

i am of the belief that the diode lasers are the best. i’ve only had three treatments to my face/neck and i can say that 75% of the black hair is gone and what is remaining is very thin and lighter. i know that hair grows in cycles and they want you to come in every 8 weeks or so, but i’ve found that waiting ~12 weeks (when the hair has grown back) is the best time to get lasered. after all, if there is no black pigment where the hair is, the laser has nothing to zap and will burn your skin. (this happened to me my 2nd treatment because it was only 7 weeks after the first and there was hardly any black hair growing back in.) and the time between treatments (hair growing back) does get longer and longer because there is less dark hair growing back in. my skin is very sensitive and the longer i wait to get lasered again, the better, but i am definitely seeing less and less black hair. i am pretty pleased with my results.

oh and i’m using a lightsheer laser